THE BRONX, NY — The Yankees lost to the Tigers 9-3 in the Bronx to lose their second straight series. The Yankees are now on a season-worst six-game losing streak. They were put in an early hole by Cam Schlittler and never recovered.
Schlittler’s Start
Schlittler had a rough outing today. The young right-hander threw 36 pitches in the first inning. He surrendered three home runs and four runs overall in the first inning. The frame could have been over with a nine-pitch inning when Carpenter drove one to the track into the glove of Spencer Jones. Jones could not hold onto the ball, and it landed in the Yankees’ bullpen for a Tigers lead, and they never looked back.
Riley Greene hit two home runs against Schlittler in the game, and he got all of both of them. It’s rare to say this about Schlittler, but he frankly did not give the Yankees a chance to win this game, and Schlittler would admit to that. The six runs Schlittler gave up were a career high. He was missing his location in the heart of the plate, which resulted in the home runs.
The Yankees’ Offense
The Yankees had a hit and a run in the first inning today! Ben Rice hit a solo home run in the first, his first home run since June 21st. Rice had been in a prolonged slump, so it was good to see some signs of life from him offensively. That was his only hit of the night.
That was the only Yankees hit through the first five innings against Skubal. They struck out nine times against Skubal across the first five innings. They did put together a little rally of sorts in the sixth inning with a hit by pitch and what was scored an error but should be a hit by Ali Sanchez.
The Yankees had four hits tonight for the first time since Thursday against the Red Sox.
The Yankees’ Defense
The Yankees have allowed 17 unearned runs in their last six games. Needless to say, that is the most in baseball. Tonight came as a result of Jose Caballero botching a double play attempt. There was a slow grounder to short. Caballero flipped to short, but the throw was wide and resulted in two bases. Caballero should have taken the sure out at first base, not that it mattered because the Yankees were out of the game already.
